Ben Stokes blasts brilliant 258 as England make South Africa suffer | Sport | The Guardian Ben Stokes blasts brilliant 258 as England make South Africa suffer Second Test, day two: England 629-6dec; South Africa 141-2 Stokes (258) and Bairstow (150*) compile record-breaking stand Ben Stokes struck 11 fours and an England record 11 sixes in his 258 against South Africa at Newlands in the second Test. Sunday 3 January 2016 11.32 EST Last modified on Monday 4 April 2016 07.27 EDT Share on Messenger Close Sometimes it pays just to fasten the seat belt, sit back and enjoy the ride. And what a ride it has been.

Going in to bat on a hat-trick on Saturday, Ben Stokes produced an innings that will for ever sit in the memory of those fortunate enough to have been at Newlands, and many who were not, so that by the time he was run out in slightly comical fashion an hour after lunch on Sunday, after AB de Villiers had dropped a vertical mishit at mid-on, he had made 258, the highest score by an England batsman against South Africa. Yet that in itself comes nowhere near telling a story of a remarkable innings that went from strength to strength, the stroke play becoming increasingly outrageous and carefree until the bowling looked utterly bereft under the onslaught. It was quite possibly the most brutally destructive innings that any England batsman has ever played, the records tumbling by the minute, it seemed. For almost five hours of his innings, during which he and his partner constructed a partnership of 399, the highest for the sixth wicket in Test history, Stokes had a companion even more flame-haired than himself.

On any other day, Jonny Bairstow’s maiden Test century would be the story of the day, a beautiful innings so wrapped in emotion that there were tears of joy and sadness mixed when he lambasted the square cut that took him to three figures and looked to the azure sky above from where his father, David, might have been watching, ruddy-faced, chest-puffed, chuffed for his lad. South Africa v England: second Test, day two – as it happened Read more Peter Roebuck once said that he felt his role as a Somerset batsman was to stay in long enough to prevent Viv Richards and Ian Botham batting together lest it degenerate into a hitting contest and it was to Bairstow’s immense credit now that until the very end, when a declaration was imminent and the bowling was on its knees, he resisted the temptation to try to cling on to the coattails of Stokes and match him, rather allowing himself to be towed along nicely in the slipstream, under the radar almost.

It was, though, an immense innings from him, the first Test century by an England keeper since Matt Prior’s rearguard at Auckland three years ago , and one that will have established his right to the No7 in the England order. With the confidence of knowing that, there will surely come advancement in his keeping for this is a considerable cricketer who has worked hard and patiently to earn his stripes. With Stokes gone, Alastair Cook allowed him the luxury of reaching 150 before the declaration and a sprint from the field. Stokes and Bairstow had already dug England out of a hole on the previous evening, with 150 runs coming in the final session. How, then, would they consolidate this on the second day. Fresh guard, assess the conditions, start over? Stokes answered this by hitting five boundaries in the first two overs of a day that was to produce an additional 312 for England at a rate of eight runs per over, a speed that no side has ever managed in a day’s play of more than 200 runs.

It took Stokes only a dozen deliveries to go from his overnight 74 to his third Test hundred, the first by an England batsman at Newlands since MJK Smith in 1965. Now his innings became an exhibition of butchery, the ball carved, cut, thrashed, driven, and having the daylights belted out of it. It took him 35 balls to go from 100 to 150, the fastest for England, and a further 28 to reach 200, 163 balls in all, which left him shy of Nathan Astle’s fastest ever double hundred, from 153 balls, scored against England in Christchurch in 2002 but it bettered by three deliveries Virender Sehwag’s mark for the second fastest. By lunch Stokes had reached 204, which meant 130 runs for him in a two-hour session, a rate of scoring in the first session that no batsman has ever managed in a Test. Beyond the interval, once Bairstow had reached his own hundred, from 161 balls with 12 fours, the bat was flung at everything by both batsmen.

When he had 138 Bairstow was dropped at long-off by Morne Morkel, who was castigated by the crowd thereafter. Meanwhile Stokes was adding to his six count, pulling a second ball not just over the boundary but out of the ground, over the railway and into the Castle brewery beyond, for the 10th of his innings, which equalled Walter Hammond’s England record for an innings, and then blasted the next ball, also from the unfortunate Kagiso Rabada, over long-on to claim that record for his own as well. From Ian Botham to Ben Stokes: six of the most destructive England innings Read more It was only attempting a third six for the over that he skied massively to mid-on, where De Villiers waited and waited and then fumbled the catch. Stokes, though, had been ball-watching rather than running and the fielder was able to gather the ball and hurl down the wicket. The South Africa bowlers, all of them, had been brutalised, but how to bowl at or contain such an onslaught? Try your best ball, or yorker? Do your utmost to get the batsman off strike? Length balls disappeared, short balls were pulled mercilessly.

The idea of reverting to power-play white-ball tactics seems compelling, especially as Chris Morris is seen as a short-form specialist, but England were scoring at white-ball rate already. A bouncer barrage with men out was tried and found wanting, and the off-spinner Dane Piedt must have offered up a prayer with every delivery he sent down. All four main bowlers conceded in excess of 100 runs, with Morris on debut taking one for 150 and Rabada three for 175. Sport picture of the day: England's Ben Stokes hits a double century Read more The declaration allowed England 43 overs at South Africa and, as local knowledge had suggested, there was not the same sprightliness in the pitch on the second day. There was an early success for England when Stiaan van Zyl was run out in a mix-up with Dean Elgar but it looked as if it would be hard work for England to make inroads. It took Stokes (it had to be) to end a second-wicket stand of 78 between Elgar and Hashim Amla, when his ferocity saw Elgar splice a short ball to backward point, where Nick Compton made good ground to take the catch.

England should have added the further wicket of De Villiers, who when five edged Jimmy Anderson waist high to Joe Root at second slip. But the catch burst through to the boundary. South Africa closed on 141 for two, with Amla on 64 and De Villiers 25. Ominous. Cricket-England records in second test against South Africa Cricket-England records in second test against South Africa Tweet Share CAPE TOWN, Jan 3 (Reuters) - The following are records set by England on the second day of the second test against South Africa at Newlands on Sunday. England declared on 629 for six wickets. * Ben Stokes and Jonny Bairstow set a world record sixth wicket partnership with 399 runs, beating the previous best of 365 set by New Zealand's Kane Williamson and BJ Watling against Sri Lanka last year. * Stokes' 258 was the most runs by a batsmen at number six, beating the previous best of 250 set by Australia's Doug Walters against New Zealand in 1977. * Stokes made the fastest 250 in test history, reaching the landmark off 196 balls.

* Stokes hit 11 sixes, the most in a test innings by an England cricketer. It was one short of Wasim Akram's world record of 12 set against Zimbabwe in 1996. * England made the highest ever first innings score at Newlands. * Stokes fell four runs short of the highest test total at Newlands. Stephen Fleming of New Zealand scored 262 against South Africa in 2006. (Compiled by Mark Gleeson; Editing by Toby Davis) Reblog Ben Stokes' brutal, record-breaking 258 for England against South Africa in 2nd Test - India.com Comments Ben Stokes may just be on the cusp of greatness, toeing the line of Ian Botham and Andrew Flintoff to continue the legacy of great all-rounders that England have produced over the years. Stokes walked out to bat when England were 167 for 4, losing two wickets in as many balls, and the South Africans snatched the momentum after the initial hard work put in by Alex Hales, Alastair Cook and Joe Root. Carnage would be a gross understatement to describe what ensued in the second day at Newlands, Cape Town.

Jonny Bairstow was lending good support to the New Zealand-born all-rounder in the middle and the duo helped England finish the first day’s play strongly. Stokes reserved special treatment for Chris Morris’ bowling, smashing five fours in the space of seven balls towards the close of the opening day’s play. He carried on from where he left. At one stage, Stokes was mistiming sixes over the boundary. He just went hell for leather, and it looked like England had a definitive plan to unsettle the South African bowlers by scoring runs quickly. Boundaries flowed everywhere and there was very little a captain could do to stem the run flow. Even a world class pace exponent like Morne Morkel was dispatched to the boundary ropes with utmost disdain. Stokes reached his double century of just 163 balls, falling short of the all time record set by Nathan Astle by just 10 balls. Later in his knock, he targeted off-spinner Dane Piedt as the ball kept travelling over the boundary ropes at utmost will. The shot of his innings is a full-blooded pull off Kagiso Rabada, which went miles over the deep mid-wicket fence and out of the ground.

Stokes and Bairstow amassed a 399-run partnership, the second highest in the all-time charts for England. Published Date: January 4, 2016 2:18 AM IST | Updated Date: January 4, 2016 2:19 AM IST Factbox - England records in second test against South Africa | Reuters Sun Jan 3, 2016 | 6:57 PM GMT Factbox - England records in second test against South Africa 1/3 England's Ben Stokes celebrates scoring a double century with Jonny Bairstow during the second cricket test match against South Africa in Cape Town, South Africa, January 3, 2016. Reuters/Mike Hutchings + 2/3 England's Ben Stokes plays a shot during the second cricket test match against South Africa in Cape Town, South Africa, January 3, 2016. Reuters/Mike Hutchings + 3/3 England's Ben Stokes (right) celebrates scoring a century with Jonny Bairstow during the second cricket test match against South Africa in Cape Town, South Africa, January 3, 2016.

Reuters/Mike Hutchings + CAPE TOWN The following are records set by England on the second day of the second test against South Africa at Newlands on Sunday. England declared on 629 for six wickets. * Ben Stokes and Jonny Bairstow set a world record sixth wicket partnership with 399 runs, beating the previous best of 365 set by New Zealand's Kane Williamson and BJ Watling against Sri Lanka last year. * Stokes' 258 was the most runs by a batsmen at number six, beating the previous best of 250 set by Australia's Doug Walters against New Zealand in 1977. * Stokes made the fastest 250 in test history, reaching the landmark off 196 balls. * Stokes hit 11 sixes, the most in a test innings by an England cricketer. It was one short of Wasim Akram's world record of 12 set against Zimbabwe in 1996. * England made the highest ever first innings score at Newlands. * Stokes fell four runs short of the highest test total at Newlands.

Stephen Fleming of New Zealand scored 262 against South Africa in 2006. (Compiled by Mark Gleeson; Editing by Toby Davis) ADVERTISEMENT Factbox - England records in second test against South Africa - Yahoo Sports Canada Factbox - England records in second test against South Africa 3 January, 2016 1:57 PM  View gallery England's Ben Stokes (right) celebrates scoring a century with Jonny Bairstow during the second … CAPE TOWN (Reuters) - The following are records set by England on the second day of the second test against South Africa at Newlands on Sunday. England declared on 629 for six wickets. * Ben Stokes and Jonny Bairstow set a world record sixth wicket partnership with 399 runs, beating the previous best of 365 set by New Zealand's Kane Williamson and BJ Watling against Sri Lanka last year. * Stokes' 258 was the most runs by a batsmen at number six, beating the previous best of 250 set by Australia 's Doug Walters against New Zealand in 1977.

* Stokes made the fastest 250 in test history, reaching the landmark off 196 balls. * Stokes hit 11 sixes, the most in a test innings by an England cricketer. It was one short of Wasim Akram's world record of 12 set against Zimbabwe in 1996. * England made the highest ever first innings score at Newlands. * Stokes fell four runs short of the highest test total at Newlands. Stephen Fleming of New Zealand scored 262 against South Africa in 2006. (Compiled by Mark Gleeson; Editing by Toby Davis) Sports & Recreation Sorry you didn't like this comment. Please provide a reason below. Please explain (optional) We will promote constructive and witty comments to the top, so everyone sees them! Sorry, we can’t load comments right now. Try again. Be the first to comment Boro fans want more aggression at home, says Boateng By Claire Bloomfield LONDON (Reuters) - Middlesbrough manager Aitor Karanka should take more risks and set up his team to be more attacking at home in order to keep the fans happy, according to former captain George Boateng.

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Doug Adler, commentating … More » Reuters - 20 minutes ago South Africa vs England second cricket Test: Ben Stokes scores fastest 250 in history South Africa vs England second cricket Test: Ben Stokes scores fastest 250 in history Mark Gleeson reddit More Cape Town: Ben Stokes and Jonny Bairstow tore apart the South African bowling attack as they enjoyed a run feast at Newlands on a record-breaking second day of the second Test which led to England declaring their first innings on 6-629. Stokes amassed 258 runs and Bairstow an unbeaten 150 as they bludgeoned a limp-looking home attack from the opening ball on Sunday, setting a new sixth-wicket Test record of 399 runs. Don't Play Ben Stokes scores fastest ever 250 England all-rounder Ben Stokes reflects on his incredible record-breaking innings of 285 in the second Test against South Africa in Cape Town.

Stokes notched up the quickest 250 (off 196 balls) in Test history after scoring the second fastest double century (163 balls) in a knock that lasted 198 deliveries, which included 30 fours and an England record 11 sixes. Bairstow notched an emotional first Test century, with England declaring once he got to 150 off 191 balls with 18 fours and two sixes. SHARE England's Ben Stokes reaches the 200-run mark at Newlands on Sunday. Photo: Schalk van Zuydam The pair took the overnight score from 5-317 in a remarkable one and half sessions of devastating batting before putting the dispirited-looking home side into bat. Stokes' double century took 10 balls more than New Zealand's Nathan Astle, who holds the record for the fastest double century in 153 balls. England's previous fastest was by Ian Botham who took 220 balls.

Advertisement In reaching 250 off 196 balls, Stokes beat Virender Sehwag's record and also set the highest score by a batsman at number six, beating a 39-year-old mark held by Australian Doug Walters. Anti-climax Link More misery for South Africa as Jonny Bairstow runs Stiaan Van Syl out after the England declaration. Photo: Julian Finney England, already 1-0 up in the four-Test series after winning the first Test in Durban by 241 runs, went from 300 to 400 in 15 overs and 400 to 500 runs in just 11 overs playing as if it was a Twenty20 match. They set the tone from the start of the second day with 45 runs in the first four overs as Stokes advanced from 74 not out overnight to his century. Bairstow started the day on 39. SHARE Jonny Barstow joins the celebrations with his century.

Photo: Julian Finney Stokes eventually went out in something of an anti-climax as he skied a shot to AB de Villiers, who dropped a simple-looking catch only to sweep up the ball and hit the stumps to run out the batsman as he ambled back to the crease. South Africa's horror day did not end after the declaration with Stiaan van Zyl run out for four in the third over of their first innings, setting off for a quick run but being sent back by opening partner Dean Elgar. Stokes' golden day then continued when he drew a thick edge from Elgar midway through the evening session. The Proteas finished a manic day in relative calm as AB de Villiers (25no) and Hashim Amla (64no) saw their side to 2-141. Records set by England at Newlands Ben Stokes and Jonny Bairstow set a world record sixth wicket partnership with 399 runs, beating the previous best of 365 set by New Zealand's Kane Williamson and BJ Watling against Sri Lanka last year.

Stokes' 258 was the most runs by a batsmen at number six, beating the previous best of 250 set by Australia's Doug Walters against New Zealand in 1977. Stokes made the fastest 250 in Test history, reaching the landmark off 196 balls. Stokes hit 11 sixes, the most in a Test innings by an England cricketer. It was one short of Wasim Akram's world record of 12 set against Zimbabwe in 1996. England made the highest ever first innings score at Newlands. Stokes fell four runs short of the highest Test total at Newlands. Stephen Fleming of New Zealand scored 262 against South Africa in 2006. Reuters, AAP A rare hundred at No. 4, and 313 runs without a fifty | Cricket | ESPN Cricinfo South Africa v England, 3rd Test, Johannesburg, 2nd day January 15, 2016 A rare hundred at No.

4, and 313 runs without a fifty Stats highlights from second day of the third Test between South Africa and England at Wanderers 8 All 11 South Africa batsmen scored between 10 and 49 runs © ESPNcricinfo Ltd 0 Instances before this Test when all 11 batsmen made double-digit scores , but none went on to get a fifty in a Test innings: South Africa's innings is the first of this kind. The highest score was 46 by Dean Elgar, at No. 1, while the lowest was 12 by Morne Morkel, at No. 11. Overall, it was the 13th instance of all 11 batsmen scoring 10 or more in an innings for a team and South Africa's 313 is the lowest total among all those. The previous lowest was also by South Africa: 358 against Australia at the MCG in 1931-32. 1964 The last time an England No. 4 batsman scored a Test century in South Africa before Joe Root in this innings - Ken Barrington made 121 , also in Johannesburg, in December 1964.

This is Root's second away hundred; he has made seven in England. 3 Number of wicketkeepers to take six or more catches in a Test innings against South Africa. Australia's Wally Grout, in 1957-58, and England's Jack Russell, in 1995-96, were the first two to do it - both in Johannesburg. Also, Bairstow equalled the second highest catches in a Test innings overall; only four wicketkeepers have taken seven catches in an innings. 16.20 England openers' average in this series, currently the second lowest in a Test series for them against South Africa. Alastair Cook and Alex Hales have together made only 162 in ten innings with just one fifty-plus score. Their worst came more than 100 years ago in the 1905-06 series when the openers averaged just 14.10. 110.17 Stokes' strike rate in this series - the second highest by a batsman scoring 300 or more runs in any series (wherever balls-faced information is available).

Shahid Afridi scored 330 runs at 121.32 against India in 2005-06. 1 Totals higher than South Africa's 313 when there has been no individual fifty-plus score in the innings - 315 by England verses West Indies in Port of Spain in 1985-86; David Gower' 47 topped the batsmen's scores but extras contributed 59, outscoring all batsmen. There are only two other 300-plus totals: 304 by England against South Africa in Cape Town in New Year Test of 2005 and 302 by South Africa against New Zealand in Wellington in 1963-64. 3 Number of South Africa bowlers to take a wicket off their first ball in Test career, including Hardus Viljoen who dismissed Cook with his first ball. The others are Bert Vogler, who too did it against England in Johannesburg , in 1905-06 and Dane Piedt, who made his debut against Zimbabwe in Harare in 2014.

Overall, Viljoen is the 20th bowler to have achieved this feat. Viljoen also hit a four off the first ball of his Test career earlier in the day. Another player in the current South Africa team has hit a four off his first ball in Test career: Temba Bavuma did it against West Indies in Port Elizabeth in December 2014. 20 Number of England players to achieve the double of scoring 1000 runs and taking 50 wickets in Tests. Ben Stokes is the latest addition in the list after completing 50 wickets with the dismissal of Morne Morkel. He has achieved it in 22 Tests - the joint second-fastest for England after Ian Botham who got there in 21 Tests; Trevor Bailey and Tony Greig are the others to do it in 21 Tests. However, Stokes is the only player to have made 1000 runs and taken 50 wickets since his debut. The closest anyone else has got to achieving it is Moeen Ali, with 859 runs and 62 wickets in same number of Tests.

2 Number of century partnerships for the fifth wicket in away Tests for England in the last 50 innings since December 2010. The only previous instance, before the 111-run stand between Root and Stokes today, was the 130-run stand between Ian Bell and Stokes in North Sound last year. Bharath Seervi is stats sub-editor at ESPNcricinfo. @SeerviBharath © ESPN Sports Media Ltd. Ben Stokes hits fastest England double century in Tests - BBC Sport BBC Sport Ben Stokes hits fastest England double century in Tests By Jamie Lillywhite Media playback is not supported on this device Ben Stokes makes history in South Africa Second Test, Cape Town (day two) England 629-6 dec: Stokes 258, Bairstow 150*; Rabada 3-175 South Africa 141-2: Amla 64*, Stokes 1-20 South Africa trail by 488 runs Scorecard Ben Stokes hit the fastest double century for England, the second fastest in history, on day two of the second Test with South Africa in Cape Town.

Stokes, in his 21st Test, resumed on 74 and raced to 200 in 163 balls to beat Ian Botham's 220-ball record. Jonny Bairstow (150) struck his maiden Test century and shared in a stand of 399, a sixth-wicket world record. Stokes made 258 as England added 312 within 39 overs and declared on 629-6, South Africa reaching 141-2 in reply. Only New Zealand's Nathan Astle has reached a Test double hundred more quickly than Stokes, off 153 balls against England in 2002.

153 balls: Nathan Astle, New Zealand v England, Christchurch, 2002 163 balls: Ben Stokes, England v South Africa, Cape Town, 2016 168 balls: Virender Sehwag, India v Sri Lanka, Mumbai, 2009 182 balls: Virender Sehwag, India v Pakistan, Lahore, 2006 186 balls: Brendon McCullum, New Zealand v Pakistan, Sharjah, 2014 England, 1-0 up in the four-match series and resuming on 317-5, added 196 in 25 overs in a thrilling morning session. Driving the ball fluently when given width outside the off stump and ruthlessly pulling anything short, 24-year-old Stokes hit five fours in the opening two overs of the day and smashed spinner Dane Piedt for 16 in three balls.

He plundered 130 in the morning, the most by any batsman in a pre-lunch session, moving from 150 to his double century in just 28 deliveries, before beating Virender Sehwag's landmark for the fastest Test 250. Attempting a third successive six to equal Wasim Akram's record of 12 for the highest number of maximums in a Test innings, Stokes lofted to AB de Villiers at mid-on, who fumbled the catch but ran out the left-hander with a direct hit.

Stokes in numbers - the records that fell Fastest Test double century by an England batsman Highest score by an England batsman at Newlands, beating Jack Hobbs' 187 in 1910 Most sixes by an England batsman (11), surpassing Wally Hammond in 1933 Most runs scored in a day of Test cricket in South Africa (453), beating the 450 made by Australia in Johannesburg in 1921 Highest score by a number six, bettering Doug Walters' 250 for Australia against New Zealand in 1977 Stokes and Bairstow set the fastest 300 partnership, beating India's Virender Sehwag and Rahul Dravid Stokes and Bairstow set the highest Test partnership for the sixth wicket Don't forget about Bairstow... Bairstow would have dominated the headlines on any other day, displaying impressively powerful hitting of his own. The 26-year-old Yorkshire wicketkeeper hit five fours and a six in the space of nine balls and now averages 104 in three matches against South Africa.

Having made six half-centuries, the wicketkeeper recorded his maiden Test hundred in his 37th innings. Standing tall at the crease and dispatching the ball to all quarters with a high backlift, he reached 150 from 191 balls and with that the declaration came. Jonny Bairstow made a maiden Test century in his 22nd match South Africa's defiant reply As so often happens after a team replies to a mammoth total, South Africa lost an early wicket, Stiaan van Zyl run out by Nick Compton after being sent back by Dean Elgar as he went in search of a single. The current number one Test side, who have lost four of their past five matches, rallied before Stokes returned to the action and had Durban centurion Elgar superbly caught for 44 by a diving Compton at point.

De Villiers (25 not out) was dropped on five by Joe Root at second slip off James Anderson and began to look more assured in favourable batting conditions at a cloudless Newlands, sharing an unbroken 56 with Hashim Amla, who ended a run of 11 innings without a fifty in reaching 64 not out. Two of the three wickets to fall on a day when 453 runs were scored - a record in South Africa - were run-outs, so a straightforward second successive victory for England is by no means guaranteed. 'Astonishing, magnificent, phenomenal' - what they said BBC cricket correspondent Jonathan Agnew: "What an astonishing innings. This man has played an innings that no-one here will ever forget. "They are all standing and applauding something that has been absolutely magnificent." Former England batsman Geoffrey Boycott on Test Match Special: "That was phenomenal. You've seen something special. You don't get 200s like that very often - very rare. It's been a memorable day." Former South Africa captain Graeme Smith: "Even as a South African you have to enjoy this. It's been both gut-wrenching and electric to watch.

"You've got a appreciate this. Everyone is witnessing something special." Former England captain Michael Vaughan was in the TMS commentary box to watch the boundaries flow Paul Collingwood hailed his fellow Durham all-rounder Broadcaster Piers Morgan enjoyed the onslaught of runs How the public reacted As Stokes blasted boundaries at will, we asked you to compare him to some comic-book heroes... Share this page Ben Stokes hammers England's fastest double century on day two of second Test against South Africa - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) Ben Stokes hammers England's fastest double century on day two of second Test against South Africa Updated January 04, 2016 07:44:09 Map: South Africa England all-rounder Ben Stokes has hit a thrilling double century as he and Jonny Bairstow battered the South African bowlers into submission on the second day of the second Test at Newlands. Stokes slammed 258 and England declared on 6 for 629 with Bairstow 150 not out.

The pair shared a world Test record sixth wicket partnership of 399 and Stokes's score was the highest by a number six batsman in Tests, eclipsing Australian Doug Walters' 250 against New Zealand in 1977. Stokes followed up by having South African opening batsman Dean Elgar caught at point as South Africa reached 2 for 141 at the close, still 488 runs behind.

England's record-breaking day Ben Stokes and Jonny Bairstow set a world-record sixth-wicket partnership with 399 runs, beating Kane Williamson and BJ Watling's 365 (NZ vs SL in 2015) Stokes's 258 is the highest score by a number six, beating Doug Walters' 250 (NZ vs AUS in 1977) Stokes made the fastest 250 in Test history, off 196 balls Stokes hit 11 sixes, the most in a Test innings by an England cricketer and one short of Wasim Akram's world record, against Zimbabwe in 1996 England made the highest first-innings score at Newlands Stokes fell four runs short of the highest Test total at Newlands; Stephen Fleming's 262 (NZ vs South Africa in 2006) The left-handed Stokes thrashed 30 fours and 11 sixes in his 197-ball innings and reached his double century off 163 balls — the second-fastest in Tests behind Nathan Astle's 153-ball effort for New Zealand against England at Christchurch in 2001/

02.

He reached 250 with a six off Kagiso Rabada (3 for 175) to become the fastest to the mark in Tests, beating Virender Sehwag's effort for India against Sri Lanka in Mumbai in 2009 by 11 balls. With a declaration imminent, Stokes pounded the next delivery into the stands for another six before, in trying to hit a third, he skied the ball to AB de Villiers at mid-on. De Villiers dropped it but ran out Stokes with a direct hit to the bowler's end. The South African bowlers had no answer to a relentless assault, which started with 45 runs scored off the first four overs of the day, bowled by Morne Morkel (1 for 114) and Chris Morris (1 for 150). The left-handed Stokes needed only 12 balls go from his overnight 74 to his third Test century, off 105 deliveries. He quickly went past his previous highest Test score, 120 against Australia at Perth two seasons ago.

South African captain Hashim Amla was soon forced to place fielders on the boundary on both sides of the wicket but Stokes continued to power the ball past them. By the end of the first hour, which yielded 103 runs off 13 overs, there were five men on the boundary. The two hours before lunch yielded 196 runs despite South Africa bowling only 25 overs and Stokes's share was 130 off 74 balls, a new record for individual runs scored before lunch on any day of a Test. He beat the 123 by Leslie Ames for England against South Africa at The Oval in 1935. Although he was overshadowed by Stokes, Bairstow played a fine innings in registering a maiden Test century off 161 balls. He then followed Stokes's example by going on an all-out attack to go to 150 off only 30 balls. His innings included 18 fours and two sixes. South Africa's malaise was summed up when Morkel dropped Bairstow on 138. The batsman drove Morris to long-off and the ball went through Morkel's hands.

De Villiers, another senior player in a largely inexperienced team, followed suit when he dropped Stokes, although he made amends by picking up the ball and running out Stokes. South Africa made a bad start when Stiaan van Zyl pushed James Anderson into the covers and set off for a run. He was sent back by Elgar and Nick Compton's throw to wicketkeeper Bairstow beat him comfortably. Elgar made 44 and shared a second-wicket partnership of 78 with Amla before Stokes, bowling around the wicket to the left-hander sent down a lifting delivery into the body. Elgar got a leading edge to it and the ball popped up square on the off side, with Compton diving to take the catch. Amla batted solidly to make 64 not out, his first half-century in 12 Test innings since he made 68 against the West Indies at the same venue a year ago. He and AB de Villiers (25 not out) put on an unbeaten 56 for the third wicket.

AFP First posted January 04, 2016 07:35:58 Top Stories Stokes creates carnage in Cape Town | cricket.com.au Stokes creates carnage in Cape Town 03 January 2016 Stokes celebrates his speedy 200 // Getty Images MATCH REPORT Allrounder scores second fastest double century ever in an explosive display against South Africa South Africa v England Tests, First Test SA View Scorecard Ben Stokes and Jonny Bairstow provided England's first sporting highlight of 2016 with a sensational 399-run stand on day two of the second Test against South Africa in Cape Town. Stokes lit up Newlands with one of the most dominant batting performances in living memory, mercilessly flogging the home attack on his way to 258 in 198 balls, including the second-fastest double century in Test history. Quick Single: Stokes show has Proteas punch-drunk Bairstow followed his lead with 150 not out, a maiden Test hundred, before the declaration came at 6-629.

It looked as though a shellshocked South Africa looked might fold when Stiaan van Zyl ran himself out for four but the Proteas finished a manic day in relative calm as AB de Villiers (25no) and Hashim Amla (64no) saw their side to 2-141. Stokes, then took the wicket of Dean Elgar to complete what was one of the greatest days by an English cricketer on a foreign field. Ben Stokes 200 off 163 balls: - 2nd fastest double-century of all time - Fastest by England - Fastest against South Africa — Mazher Arshad (@MazherArshad) January 3, 2016 Earlier he and Bairstow laid waste to the record books - and a bedraggled, bewildered bowling attack - chalking up a slew of new landmarks with their muscular free-hitting.

As well as Stokes moving second behind Nathan Astle's 153-ball marvel in the list of the fastest 200s of all time, he also recorded the top score by a Test No.6 and broke the English record for sixes in an innings with 11. The partnership was the best ever between a sixth-wicket pair, England's second-highest ever for any wicket and also the fastest 300 stand in history. South Africa were without the injured trio of Dale Steyn, Kyle Abbott and Vernon Philander, but England, and Stokes in particular, treated the bowling attack like club players. Morne Morkel, a veteran of 68 Tests and a taker of 232 wickets, finished with 1-114 and somehow ended as the most economical of four front-line bowlers. In the first session Stokes and Bairstow clubbed 196 runs from 25 overs and after the break piled on a further 116 in 13.5 overs. Best Stokes so far has scored 128 runs in the session, the most by any batsman before lunch in history of Test cricket.

#EngvRSA — Mazher Arshad (@MazherArshad) January 3, 2016 It was a thrilling show from Stokes, who also hit 30 fours as South Africa fell to pieces in the field. Bairstow passed three figures, in front of his watching mother and sister, in what was an emotional moment for the 26-year-old. The Yorkshireman looked twice to the skies as he soaked up the moment, perhaps sparing a thought for his late father David, who played four Tests between 1979 and 1981 before taking his own life in 1998. After almost 10 hours in the field, Van Zyl lasted just 12 balls before being run out looking to poach a single, leaving the tea score at 1-24. Stokes' golden day continued when he drew a thick edge from Elgar midway through the evening session but key men De Villiers and Amla dug in for the close. "It hasn't quite sunk in yet," Stokes told Sky Sports at the end of the day's play.

"I looked at the scoreboard, we had a lot runs on board and I thought we were in a good position anyway, with only five down, so I just chanced my arm. I didn't think me slogging one up in the air would have put us in that bad a position! "It's complete instinct, I thought to myself what I was going to do and executed it the right way. You seem to pick the ball up a lot earlier and you bring the one-day and Twenty20 stuff back into the game when you're going like that. "Cookie ran a message out when we were 600, said 630 or do you want to go on for 300? I said it doesn't really matter because I'm just trying to hit every ball for six anyway!" Stokes was quick to praise Bairstow, too, for his contribution to Test cricket's highest ever sixth-wicket stand. "People probably won't speak about 'Bluey's' knock but when another guy's going hell for leather at the other end, you almost get drawn into doing that yourself," he said.

"The way he played his natural game and didn't look to go too far out of his box, I thought was amazing - and then once he got his hundred he let loose." The opinions expressed here are the views of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of Cricket Australia. Filed Under

Question: Which England cricketer scored 258 against South Africa in the second test in January?
Answer: Ben Stokes